Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 59 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports10 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
59 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline
STRONG FUEL FUMES INSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR NON-SPECIFIC TIME. PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. NOTICABLE WHEN GETTING IN THE CAR TO START AND GO. SOMETIMES SO STRONG BOTH WINDOWS HAVE TO BE PUT DOWN IN ORDER TO BREATHE. IT GOES AWAY ONCE THE CAR IS RUNNING AND AIRED OUT. THIS CAN HAPPEN ONCE IN A DAY, OR WEE…
Read full complaint
STRONG FUEL FUMES INSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR NON-SPECIFIC TIME. PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. NOTICABLE WHEN GETTING IN THE CAR TO START AND GO. SOMETIMES SO STRONG BOTH WINDOWS HAVE TO BE PUT DOWN IN ORDER TO BREATHE. IT GOES AWAY ONCE THE CAR IS RUNNING AND AIRED OUT. THIS CAN HAPPEN ONCE IN A DAY, OR WEEK, OR SEVERAL WEEKS, OR IT CAN GO ON ALL DAY, THEN NOT AGAIN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. OR HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES IN A WEEK. THE GAS CAP IS TIGHT AND A VACUUM SOUND IS RELEASED WHEN THE CAP IS LOOSENED. THE SMELL IS NOT OBVIOUS OUTSIDE THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #741546
Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2001
TiresInjury
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WIDE TIRES EQUIPPED ON THIS VEHICLE CAUSED 2 ACCIDENTS IN WHICH VEHICLE FISH-TAILED AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL RESULTING IN A CRASH, ON ONE OCCASION CONSUMER HIT HIS HEAD, BUT WAS NOT INJURED, BOTH ACCIDENTS OCCURRED IN SNOWY, WET ROAD CONDITIONS. (TIRE MAKE/MODEL NOT PROVIDED) *SLC
NHTSA ODI #559708
Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2000
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHT DOORS MAKE LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING ON OF OFF HEADLIGHTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #737907
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2000
Electrical System
IT TAKES 3 TIMES BEFORE I START MY CAR SO WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT? *AK
NHTSA ODI #733107
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureVisibility
THE ABS DO NOT LOCK UP SOMETIMES WHEN I SLOW DOWN AT AN INTERSETION. THE DOOR SKINS ON BOTH DOORS HAVE BECOME SEPARATED SEVERSAL TIMES WHICH MAKES THE CAR DOORS NOT SHUT ALL THE WAY WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME AND OTHERS OUR LIVES. THE POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS ALWAYS BREAK SO THAT I CAN NOT OPEN MY DOOR OR WINDOWS THEY ALSO COME…
Read full complaint
THE ABS DO NOT LOCK UP SOMETIMES WHEN I SLOW DOWN AT AN INTERSETION. THE DOOR SKINS ON BOTH DOORS HAVE BECOME SEPARATED SEVERSAL TIMES WHICH MAKES THE CAR DOORS NOT SHUT ALL THE WAY WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME AND OTHERS OUR LIVES. THE POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS ALWAYS BREAK SO THAT I CAN NOT OPEN MY DOOR OR WINDOWS THEY ALSO COME OFF TRACK . THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SCRATCH THE WINDSHIELD SO IT HAS TO BE REPLACED AND THEY DO NOT WIPE THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD WHICH LEAVES BLIND SPOTS IN MY POINT OF SIGHT CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER TO NOT CAUSE RECKS.
NHTSA ODI #732668
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2000
Tires
DRIVING ON A HWY IN TEXAS MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE THREW IT'S TREAD. THIS WIPED OUT THE FRONT QUARTER OF MY CAR, AND LEFT STREAKS OF RUBBER DOWN THE LENGTH OF THE CAR. A WEEK AND A HALF LATER A SECOND TIRE OF THE SAME KIND HAD A PROBLEM. THIS TIRE EGGED ON THE TREAD OF THE TIRE. I REMOVED THE TIRE AND TOOK IT TO A DEALER WHO SA…
Read full complaint
DRIVING ON A HWY IN TEXAS MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE THREW IT'S TREAD. THIS WIPED OUT THE FRONT QUARTER OF MY CAR, AND LEFT STREAKS OF RUBBER DOWN THE LENGTH OF THE CAR. A WEEK AND A HALF LATER A SECOND TIRE OF THE SAME KIND HAD A PROBLEM. THIS TIRE EGGED ON THE TREAD OF THE TIRE. I REMOVED THE TIRE AND TOOK IT TO A DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS A BUSTED STEEL BELT, BUT HE ALSO WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. THE NEXT DAY WHILE SITTING IN MY CAR THE EGG BUSTED AND SEPARATED THE TREAD ON THIS TIRE SIMILAR TO THE FIRST. CAN YALL LOOK IN TO THIS AND TELL ME WHAT STEPS I NEED TO TAKE I RECOVERING SOME OF THE MONEY THAT I AM PUTTING OUT TO HAVE THIS DAMAGE FIXED? THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP AND/OR INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P21560R16 )
NHTSA ODI #730262
Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE FUEL LINES HAVE BEEN MISROUTED AND CONTACTED THE AIR CHECK VALVE WHICH BURNED AND DAMAGED OTHER PARTS. NLM
NHTSA ODI #551897
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN ENGINE FIRE. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #551602
Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2000
StructureCrashInjury
MY "T-TOP" CAR'S A PILLAR COLLAPSED AND STRUCK ME IN THE HEAD WHEN I WAS STRUCK IN THE LEFTMOST FRONT PART OF MY CAR, CAUSING A SEVERE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY WHICH I AM SLOWLY RECOVERING FROM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #718306
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2000
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
DISC BRAKES MISSING BACKPLATE ALLOWING RAIN TO SOAK BRAKES RESULTING IN DRASTICALLY REDUCED BRAKING POWER. GM SAYS IT IS AN UNFORTUNATE SIDE EFFECT OF SUCH A HIGH PERFORMANCE BRAKING SYSTEM. CONDENSATION IN DISTRIBUTOR CAUSES SPUTTERING. DEALER OFFERED $1000 RETROFIT TO A VENTED DISTRUBUTOR. KNOWN BIG PROBLEM WITH OPTITRONIC…
Read full complaint
DISC BRAKES MISSING BACKPLATE ALLOWING RAIN TO SOAK BRAKES RESULTING IN DRASTICALLY REDUCED BRAKING POWER. GM SAYS IT IS AN UNFORTUNATE SIDE EFFECT OF SUCH A HIGH PERFORMANCE BRAKING SYSTEM. CONDENSATION IN DISTRIBUTOR CAUSES SPUTTERING. DEALER OFFERED $1000 RETROFIT TO A VENTED DISTRUBUTOR. KNOWN BIG PROBLEM WITH OPTITRONIC IGNITION. GENERAL MOTORS REFUSED TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY.
THE FUEL LINES ON THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED AND MAY CONTACT THE "AIR" CHECK VALVE. THE HIGH TEMPERATURES FROM THE "AIR" CHECK VALVE COULD ALLOW IT TO MELT THROUGH AND DAMAGE A FUEL LINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FUEL LINE WHICH HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY THE HEAT OF THE"AIR" CHECK VALVE MAY LEAK FUEL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHERE IT COULDRESULT IN A FIRE IF EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: REROUTE ANY MISROUTED FUEL LINES TO THE PROPER POSITION, AND REPLACE ANY FUEL LINE BUNDLE WHERE THE OUTER SHELL HAS BEEN MELTED THROUGH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
EA97024 · Fuel Tube Retaining Clip Failure
Opened Nov 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 29, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
MOST OF THE REPORTS REVIEWED IN THIS INVESTIGATION ARE FIRE INCIDENTS IN WHICH FUEL LEAKAGE HAS BEEN ALLEGED AS THE CAUSE OR THE AREA OF ORIGIN IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE SUBJECT CLIP WAS A FACTOR IN ANY OF THESE FIRE INCIDENTS AND NHTSA TESTING INDICATES THATBROKEN OR DISLODGED RETENTION CLIP DOES NOT RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINE BUNDLE TOWARD THE LEFT SECONDARY AIR INJECTION CHECK VALVE.FAILURE OF THE CLIP PLACES THE FUEL LINE BUNDLE ASSEMBLY IN THE SAME CONFIGURATION AS THE 1993 MODEL YEAR LTI VEHICLES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE97036 · Fuel Tub Retaining Clip Failure
Opened Jul 24, 1997 · Closed Nov 13, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
OWNERS HAVE REPORTED FAILURES OF THE FUEL TUBE RETENTION CLIP THAT ATTACHES TO THE PLASTIC THROTTLE LINKAGE COVER.ACCORDING TO GM, THE SUBJECT RETENTION CLIP (P/N 12048089) WAS IMPLEMENTED IN PRODUCTION ON OCTOBER 12, 1993, TO ADDRESS A CONCERN WITH INCORRECT ASSEMBLY PLANT FUEL LINE ROUTING.MIS-ROUTED FUEL TUBES MAY FAIL FROM CONTACT WITH A HOT AIR CHECK VALVE, CREATING A FIRE HAZARD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.GM MAINTAINS THAT NO PROBLEMS SHOULD OCCUR IF THE CLIP IS PROPERLY INSTALLED AND ISN'T MISHANDLED DURING SUBSEQUENT SERVICE OPERATIONS.SOME OWNERS HAVE ALLEGED TO ODI THAT THE SUBJECT CLIP BECOMES BRITTLE OVER TIME AND MAY ALSO PULL FREE OF THE THROTTLE LINKAGE COVER ATTACHMENT HOLE.
1994 Pontiac Firebird Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year